Does Greta Thunberg Really Have an Effect on the Climate?

Global climate work faces a number of challenges and many views – both scientific and philosophical. It is also fueled by various factions, ranging from preppers who see an apocalypse in the near future, to climate experts who, with scientific tools, know that something real can be done to save the planet.

Then we have the 17-year-old who has been compared to Pippi, honored by Bono, Leonardo DiCaprio, Arnold Schwarzenegger and a number of climate scientists.

In 2018, she was also named one of the world’s 25 most influential teenagers by Time Magazine.

We are, of course, talking about Greta Thunberg, who became famous after she struck for the climate for three weeks in August. Many critical voices have been raised and they mean that it does not make any sense that Greta Thunberg is leaving school to demonstrate for the climate, but is that really true?

Looking at the impact Thunberg has received both in Sweden and internationally, her struggle has indeed made an impact.

Among other things, she has been to Davos at the World Economic Forum and spoke at the UN’s climate summit in Katowice. According to a recent survey by First State Investments, 80 percent of Generation Y is interested in sustainable and responsible investment. And some time ago, 35,000 Belgian students went on strike after being inspired by Greta Thunberg.

In Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been in blustery weather and a hot following political debate has started after students across Australia have chosen to embark on a school strike for the environment. This, in turn, has led to a concerted action that will take place on March 15, the School Strike 4 Climate Action. Inspirer? Greta Thunberg so clearly.

So there is a lot of light in the dark. But we are also heading in a direction that risks taking us to an irreversible and potentially catastrophic climate change.

Therefore, the task is to save the planet in our hands. It has already been established that they miss the 2020 climate target, ie reducing emissions by 40 percent compared to 1990.

For Germany, it is about making a decision for a future without damaging jobs and finances, but more importantly, the message it gives to the whole world. If the Germans end up with the lignite, it will have an effect all over the world. There will be a strong signal that all coal nations must switch to fossil-free. Unless the world’s fourth-largest economy fails to achieve that goal, the smaller nations will not take responsibility either.

Other positive effects are seen in the US.

The oil and gas companies, which are among the biggest emission villains, now leave nothing to their fate. In September 2018, following pressure from investors and a number of lawsuits, ExxonMobile, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum joined a global climate group of which Shell and British Petroleum are already members. The group is working to stop climate change and reduce emissions.

Several of these energy giants have also come out and said that they invest in renewable technology. It should nevertheless be added that it is primarily about that none of them want to risk falling under the top curve of new technology. But if it is true that they are actually spending as much money as they claim, the effect of it will be somewhat good. Namely, a quest to dominate the new energy supply in the world.

And that despite President Donald Trump giving the go-ahead to more funding for fossil fuels. Then one can note that many of these energy giants still make much larger investments that emit more greenhouse gases than they invest in renewables.

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